An assistant sub inspector of the Jiribam police station who was deputed to monitor returnees at the Jiribam railway station has been tested positive for COVID-19, medical officials said on Wednesday.
The patient has a travel history to Silchar in Assam, the officials said, adding he had recently visited the town along with his pregnant wife for the delivery of their child at a hospital there, the officials said.
State health department additional director Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang, who is also the spokesperson of the state directorate of health services told the Imphal Free Press that the test result of the police personnel has been found positive for COVID-19.
Following the confirmation of the positive case, deputy commissioner Jiribam W Malemnganba Chenglei has issued orders for sealing of Jiribam Police Station and two residential areas of the patient at Babupara Ward No V and Kadamtala, Jiribam.
The officer-in-charge of Jiribam police station said the said personnel was deputed to monitor the stranded people at Jiribam railway station and stays at the police station most of the time. Family members of the said personnel have also tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday and their results are yet to be declared.
The district chief medical officer and deputy commissioner will now take over the work to continue taking precautionary measures of the area.
Following necessary procedures, all the personnel of the said police station have started taking tests for coronavirus on Wednesday.
The patient was tested on Tuesday and further sent to Imphal to conduct re-tests for COVID-19, police sources said.
The police personnel, after the visit to a hospital at Silchar resumed his duty at the said police station on the same day. Source said, his wife delivered a baby boy and the child will also be tested. The other personnel who are posted in the said police station have been tested on Wednesday and their results are yet to come.
In a report earlier published by the IFP, one police personnel had expressed that it would be difficult to control the spread of COVID-19 if one police personnel is infected with the virus. The personnel had also urged the government to provide proper precautionary measures.
Apart from monitoring thousands of stranded and returnees at the Jiribam railway station, being a border area, the police personnel have to stay alert to stop illegal migration as well. The police personnel of Jiribam have been doing their duties by risking their lives without using proper protective equipment, the personnel added.
Initiating active surveillance of COVID-19, entry and exit of people from the containment area has been prohibited as per the order.
